TOOLSTATION AND TRAVIS PERKINS JOIN FORCES TO HELP TRANSFORM BRADBY YOUTH CLUB IN RUGBY
Posted by: electime 20th June 2023
Toolstation, one of Britain’s fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies and part of Travis Perkins plc, has joined forces with its sister company, Travis Perkins, the UK’s largest distributor of materials to the construction sector, to support social enterprise VIY (Volunteer It Yourself) to help young disengaged young people learn DIY and vocational skills whilst helping repair and refurbish a 100+ year old youth club based in Rugby.
The partnership has helped transform The Bradby Club in Rugby, through vibrant artwork in partnership with female Midlands illustrator duo, Pickle Illustration. Together they have transformed the entrance through bold mural artwork and freshened up the appearance of all of its interior spaces, creating a more vibrant space, as well as the boxing gym used by local young people on a daily basis.
The Bradby Club has been supporting the local community for over 100 years and works with young people and the community in the Rugby area and offers open access and specialist services, a range of daily physical activity sessions and learning and residential experiences. The project has been match-funded by Think Active and Sport England, to help motivate more local people to participate in the range of physical activity on offer at The Bradby Club, including CrossFit, tennis and acrobatics. All of the paint was donated by Dulux.
The initiative is helping more young people learn DIY skills and to consider a career in the construction and building industry, whilst renovating a space they use and benefit from. Toolstation is funding and helping the volunteers gain City & Guilds qualifications as part of its partnership with VIY. The project saw over 17 young volunteers between the ages of 14-20 pledge up to 5 days work on the project, with all participants being awarded a City & Guilds accreditation in Painting & Decorating.
Over the course of three days, 15 colleagues from across the Travis Perkins Group also including Keyline, CCF and BSS have also volunteered to help redecorate the club – right on the doorstep of their Northamptonshire Head Office.
Colleagues from the LEAP Apprenticeships & Early Careers team also delivered a careers and employability talk to some of the young volunteers, sharing insight on routes and opportunities into the industry following their VIY experience.
John Robertson, Club Leader at Bradby Youth Club said: “People walking past didn’t know what we offered before. Now if you look at the club, inside, outside, everywhere, it’s brighter and more inviting. People are going to know what we do from the new murals and signage – I anticipate a lot more young people walking past will be intrigued, want to come in and then participate in the sessions and sports activities we run in this new, modern, welcoming space.”
Jag Nagra, HR Director at Toolstation says: “For us, charity and community is about supporting others and making positive change happen in the communities where we live and work, and we’re delighted to continue our support of the VIY team by helping create this fantastic space at Bradby Youth Club. This project will encourage young people to develop confidence and learn practical trade and building skills and earn a qualification.”
Margaret Ollerenshaw and Alison O’Connell from Travis Perkins, who volunteered said:
“We and the volunteers were really excited to be involved with this project, and had our paint brushes at the ready! We’re really pleased to see how many Travis Perkins colleagues have already registered their interest for future VIY projects we have coming up too.
“We’re looking forward to supporting more projects over the coming months and we’ve had lots of interest from our colleagues. It’s a great opportunity for Travis Perkins to be able to help and support where they can through supplying materials, volunteering and working collaboratively with our Group businesses.”
Toolstation and Travis Perkins plan on supporting a number of other VIY projects throughout the year and in 2023, and has set a target to help over 100 young people gain qualifications and consider a career in the trades.
